With Luke Hodge retiring and Gary Ablett Jnr in the twilight of his career, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to take a look back at the 2001 AFL 'Super' Draft.
The 'Super' Draft is widely regarded as one of the best of all time, boasting a number of stars all the way through it. It was also the draft that formed the nucleus of Geelong's triple-premiership side, one of the greatest teams of the modern era.
Heck, we couldn't even squeeze in names like Jason Gram, Adam Schneider, Andrew Carrazzo and Brett Thornton this draft was so deep!
Here is Zero Hanger's re-drafted first round of the 2001 AFL 'Super' Draft, including players taken in the Rookie Draft:
2. Luke Hodge (St Kilda)
No player is as respected as Luke Hodge.
Originally taken with the first overall pick, the chubby youngster looked like a bust in his first three seasons, averaging 15.5, 12.9 and 15.7 disposals respectively.
But in 2005 Hodge broke out, culminating in his first All Australian jumper plus selection for Australia in the International Rules series.
Things only went up from there for Hodge, finishing his career with four premierships (three as skipper), two Norm Smith Medals, three All Australians and two best and fairests.
Being best on ground in the biggest game of the year twice is Hodge's biggest badge of honour, cementing his legacy as the ultimate big-time player.
The veteran further enhanced his reputation when he moved to Brisbane at the end of 2017 to help the lowly Lions climb back up the ladder, having not played finals since 2009. In his second season at Brisbane in 2019, he helped them become a genuine premiership contender, finishing second before bowing out of the finals in straight sets.
Hodge's dismissal to get carried off the field in his last game is a true testament to his character - a team player.
